baenes



(No Model.)

J.H.BARNES. LOOK BSGUTGHEON.

Patented Feb. 14,1882.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN H. BARNES, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE BARNES MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

LOCK-ESCUTCH EON.

SPECIFICATIGN forming part of Letters Patent No. 253,663, dated February 14, 1882.

Application filed January 3, 1882.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN H. BARNES, of New Haven, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut,have invented a new Improvement in Lock and Latch Escutcheons; and I do hereby declare the following, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, and which said drawings constitute part of this specification, and represent, in-

Figure 1, a front view; Fig. 2, a transverse section.

This invention relates to an improvement in escutcheons for that class of locks commonly called tubular or cylindrical, and which employ a flat key, which, entering the tube,

turns with it in drawing or throwing the bolt. In the usual construction either the escutcheon is provided with a disk in the center, having a slit corresponding to the transverse section of the key, the said disk arranged to rotate in the body of the escntcheon as the keyis turned, or it is made without the revolving disk, having simply a circular hole, the diameter of which is sutlieient to allow the key to pass through and turn. In either construction there is nothing to indicate in which direction to turn the key. In the eseutcheons which have the rotating disk in the center, another difficulty exists-that is to say, the disk is liable to be turned and bring the slot out of line with the slot in the cylinder, so that a person frequently has difficulty in properly inserting the key. Again, this class of escutcheons, while most desirable from presenting the best finished appearance, are expensive. Those which have simply the circular hole do not guide the key, but leave exposed the necessary hole in the door.

The object of this invention is to construct an eseutcheon which may be made less expensive, and can be stamped from sheet metal,.

and which shall not only properly and certainly guide the keyinto the tube, but will overcome the before-mentioned difliculties; and the invention consists in an escutcheon having a (No model.)

diametrical slot, its central width being that of the thickness of the key, and expanded at its two extremes, as more fully hereinafter described.

A represents the escutcheon, which may be made of cast or wrought metal. In its center is the key-hole at, (here shown as in vertical position.) It extends diametrically across the central portion, its length substantially equal to the width of the key, and at its center its width is substantially the thickness ofthe key.

In that class of looks or latches in which the tube turns in but one direction, one side, b, will be vertical from the center upward, the

other side, d, vertical from the center downward-that is, the two parts b d are in lines parallel to each other. At the top the hole is expandedsay turning to the right side 6 from the center upward, and on the opposite side, f, from the center downward, turning to the left, the sides e f parallel ,to each other, as are the lines I) d.

The key is inserted vertically, bearing upon one side against the edge 6 above and the other side below against the edge (1, these two sides forming guides for the proper direction of the key into the tube. Then the key may be turned until it brings up against, or nearly against, the inclined edges ef, and sufficiently to withdraw the bolt.

If the key requires to be turned in the opposite directionthat is, to the left instead of to the right-then the escutcheon will be made accordingly, or may be turned over toward the left, the sides e f then being the guides for the introduction of the key; or it it be a latch in which the key may be turned in either direction, then the key-hole will be expanded at the top and bottom accordingly. The center, remaining in width equal to the thickness of the key, serves as a guide for the key.

This construction enables the escutcheon to be made from sheet metal, because it can be struck up and the key-hole cut; or it may be made of cast met-ah It covers the end of the tube as perfectly as the rotating disk-escutchcon, and is very much cheaper in construction,

and does not expose the hole in the door as in the key, and expanded above and below to the escutcheon without the rotating disk. permit the turning. of the key for the with- I claimdrawing of the bolt, substantiallyas described. 10

The herein-described escutche0n,having the JOHN H. BARNES. 5 key-hole diametrically across its center, in Witnesses:

width at the center substantially equal to the J. H. VVOOLASTON, thickness of the key, to serve as a guide for Jos. O. EARLE. 

